The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess — Inside the Rehearsal Room #3

We’ve completed another successful week in Cambridge. I promise to start taking pictures. I wish I had taken photos on Saturday, because it was apparently take-your-kid to work day, so everyone involved in the show who has children brought them. There were all these adorable tots running around the theater, and they all looked just like their parents! It was funny to see mini-versions of Nate (playing Robbins), AJ and Puma (Strawberry Woman and Honey Man – who happen to actually be married), etc.

We’re continuing to stage through the show. Every element is ever-evolving as we work. Also, we had a very exciting and heartwarming event this week that brought The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess some excellent publicity. Shelly Nemirovsky held a celebratory dinner at her beautiful house in Boston. In attendance were the cast and crew, A.R.T. Board Chairman Donald Ware, his wife Susan, members of the A.R.T. board, Ted Cutler, and the list goes on (Click here for more info.)

One of the most memorable and moving moments of the night was Ted Cutler recalling an encounter with Billie Holiday, who sang I Loves You, Porgy at a jazz club in Boston. Mr. Cutler remembered how everything fell silent as Holiday sang the ballad, bringing tears to everyone’s eyes. Afterward, Mr. Cutler went up to her to tell her how beautiful it was and she replied – and forgive me for not remembering the exact words – but something along the lines of “It don’t pay no mind anyway, I won’t be here for much longer.” That is paraphrasing – it was more poetic than that – but very sad and moving. Audra McDonald said, at the party, she has been channeling Billie Holiday in her portrayal of Bess. Maybe in 80 years, when people are still putting on productions of Porgy and Bess, they’ll be channeling Amy Winehouse.

Signing off from Cambridge – onward to another week of staging, and we will begin working with the orchestra in a couple of days!

Mia

Publication date: August 3, 2011

Featured Comment: As rehearsals continue at the A.R.T., Assistant Director of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Mia Walker, fills us in on the show’s progress…and some of the fun the cast and crew’s been having.

Events: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

Venue: Loeb Drama Center